Spotlight on: Kamala Sekar

Micro-Entrepreneur:      Kamala Sekar
Micro-Business:            Toy-Making
Location:                        Tamil Nadu (Chennai), India
InVestment Needed:      Rs. 53,060 (approx. $1250.18 USD)
InVestment Used For:   Material Dyes
Target Disbursement:   August 2011

The Business.
When we think of India, we picture vibrant colours: spices, dyed cloth, mosaic tiles and handicrafts. This is attributed to the vast creation of mural paintings, carvings and sculptings which began over 5000 years ago in the fertile Indus Valley adding to the rich art history of India. Kamala’s story is part of this celebrated cultural practice. As an accomplished craftswoman with over 20 years of experience in the business of sculpting and handiwork, she designs murals, sculptures and small artifacts representing Hindu deities and carved toys for children by hand.

The Market Opportunity.
Having been in the business for over 20 years, Kamala has established a strong network of clients in the export sector. “Exporters see us as skilled, experienced and qualified artisans and pay us in advance for our work. Demand for our work is extremely high, especially during religious festivals like Diwali,” she says. When questioned about challenge of competition from another toymaker in her village, she quickly responds that since demand is perpetually high, there is enough work for each of them. Moreover, they have built separate circles of clients who they share long-term professional relationships with. “I think this is a great opportunity for everyone in my village to understand the scope for growth in this business. I would be glad if this village can pride itself on its toy-making skills,” she adds

Her Business Strategy.
The biggest struggle for a talented artisan such as Kamala is obtaining proper quantities of state-of-the-art raw materials, in the form of metal dyes and moulds, at reasonable prices. Kamala needs to invest in good quality material dyes to ensure distinguishable product finesse and value to her clients, but the only way for her to maintain cost effectiveness is by making bulk purchases. At InVenture, we strongly believe that local businesses featuring gifted craftsmen must be encouraged to retain their long established and traditional skills that would otherwise become lost.

Making it Happen.
YOU can add a touch of colour to Kamala’s growing toy-making business by InVesting in her so she can purchase material dyes for her crafts. Spark a change reaction today by visit Kamala’s profile HERE


-Manali + Jen